Chapter 63: Earth, Heaven, Void Meridians **

As Jiang Feng stood up, his body felt like a forge of unyielding power. Each beat of his heart resounded like a mighty drum, reverberating through his entire being. His strength surged explosively, and the torn flesh and gaping wounds across his body began to mend, knitting themselves together with an almost eerie efficiency. The black flames that cloaked him continued to burn fiercely, their oppressive heat radiating outward. The once lush terrain was now a desolate wasteland, scorched for miles in every direction.

Jiang Feng glanced down at himself. His robes were gone, save for a small tattered strip preserving his modesty. His eyes, void of emotion, lifted to the stormy heavens as he processed the magnitude of what had just occurred.

"The tribulation this time only had three lightning bolts," he mused. "But they were far stronger than the first time it happened. How much more brutal will they become as I progress?"

His gaze shifted downward, settling on the area around his heart. There, three glowing new meridians intertwined with the pulsing connection to the dragon above him. Symbiotic in nature, he could feel every heartbeat of the majestic creature, its raw power coursing through him like a shared lifeline. The bond extended beyond the physical—it was as if their minds had fused, communicating on a level deeper than words.

Turning his attention to the horizon, Jiang Feng's sharp eyes widened. Just a dozen miles away, an intricate wall of formation lines and twisting symbols shimmered faintly in the night. The massive barrier surrounded him entirely, leaving only the sky above open. As he peered closer, he noticed two figures hovering above the formation.

It was Lin Moyi and Zhen Chen.

The two old men were pale, their faces strained as they reinforced the formation with every ounce of their strength. Above Zhen Chen's head floated a ghostly, soul-like projection, bound by nine ethereal chains. Five of the chains hung shattered, while the remaining four stayed intact, thrumming with energy. Meanwhile, aboveLin Moyi, an enormous spectral eagle spread its wings. Nine chains encircled the bird, but only one was broken, with eight still firmly locked.

"The old man and Zhen Chen. Did he make his breakthrough?" Jiang Feng murmured, his voice barely audible. Before he could make sense of their presence or speak further, the dragon's guttural growl rumbled through his mind once more.

"The tenth meridian," it began, its voice heavy and commanding. "The Earth's Meridian, also known as the Terrestrial Vessel. This meridian anchors you to the physical realm, drawing strength from the earth itself. It runs from the soles of your feet deep into the ground, connecting with the Earth's energy network."

The dragon's claw moved, pointing to the first glowing meridian in its chest, then to the newly formed one.

"Its function is to stabilize your body's energy, fortify your endurance, and root your spiritual techniques in raw physical power. Its unique ability, Seismic Surge, allows you to channel energy through the Earth's Meridian to unleash devastating shockwaves or solidify your stance, rendering you immovable in the heat of battle."

Jiang Feng's fingers twitched as he absorbed the information. The strength radiating from this new connection was unlike anything he had felt before. As the dragon's claw moved again, his mind cleared, his focus sharpening as he prepared to meet whatever came next. The tribulation had carved new power into his very soul, but the storm was far from over.

The dragon's deep voice resonated with authority as it continued its revelation.

"The eleventh, Heaven's Meridian, known as the Celestial Vessel. The Heaven's Meridian is a powerful channel that connects the body to the cosmos, drawing in celestial energy to enhance spiritual cultivation and mental clarity—a meridian only accessible to the first Aetherion Dragon and now you!."

Its glowing claw pointed toward Jiang Feng's head.

"It originates at the crown of the head and flows outward, linking myself and you to the universe's vast reservoir of energy. Its function is to facilitate the absorption of celestial energy, amplifying spiritual power and enabling extraordinary feats such as clairvoyance, heightened perception, and resistance to illusions."

The dragon's voice grew heavier with emphasis.

"Its unique ability: Starlink Resonance. When fully activated, the Heaven's Meridian allows you to draw upon the energy of celestial bodies, unleashing powerful attacks or fortifying your spiritual reserves."

The dragon coiled above Jiang Feng's head, its shimmering form slowly fading into the night. Yet, Jiang Feng could still feel its overwhelming presence, even though it was no longer visible.

"Where is it?" Jiang Feng wondered, his thoughts racing as he scanned his surroundings.

Moments later, the dragon reappeared, its golden eyes glowing with an ancient light. It roared one final time, the sound shaking the heavens, before diving headlong into Jiang Feng's body. A rush of power surged through him, filling every meridian with burning intensity.

The dragon's voice echoed again, this time more solemn, as though delivering a final decree.

"The twelfth, Void Meridian, known as the Ethereal Vessel. The Void Meridian is the most enigmatic of all, connecting the body to the concept of nothingness. It runs through the center of the body, weaving between the other meridians and existing partially outside the physical plane. It enables the manipulation of void energy, granting abilities such as teleportation, phasing through objects, and erasing presence."

Jiang Feng felt a flicker of understanding as the dragon described the void's enigmatic nature, he was super excited to say the least.

"Its unique ability: Ethereal Dissolution. You can momentarily enter a state of void, becoming intangible and immune to physical or spiritual attacks. While in this state, you can also siphon energy from the void to replenish your reserves or disrupt your opponent's spiritual energy flow. But," the dragon's tone shifted, "for now, you are too weak. Only the Earth's Meridian is accessible to you. Get stronger. You've earned my approval, Son of Demon Hammer."

With that, the dragon's voice faded into silence. Jiang Feng stood alone, his body still pulsing with residual power. He clenched his fists, feeling the new strength coursing through him. His gaze turned skyward, his resolve unwavering. He now bore the responsibility of wielding the Earth's Meridian and the promise of unlocking the heavens and the void.

The battle for strengthen wasn't over—it had only just begun.

-

The rain ceased, and the clouds parted, revealing a star-studded sky. Jiang Feng exhaled slowly, his body trembling but alive.

From the high walls, Lin Moyi and Zhen Chen watched silently. Lin Moyi's eyes gleamed with a mix of awe and dread.

"He... broke through," he murmured.

"Not just broken through," Zhen Chen replied. "He has transformed. I fear that we are in for a wild ride. I never thought the legends were true!" Jiang Feng turned, his piercing gaze locking with theirs.

"So it really is reverse cultivation, the greatest taboo," Lin Moyi sighed. The whole world knew what it meant when such an anomaly appeared—chaos, twisting karma, and falling bodies that could form mountains.

"I don't think we have the ability to keep this child. He's your responsibility. What do you want to do?" Zhen Chen turned to Lin Moyi. He, too, was lost for words, never before having witnessed something like what he had just seen. Not to mention that the draconic power and spiritual projection of the dragon sent his nerves crashing. Dragons like that shouldn't exist in the lower worlds.

"I'll stay true to my promise and protect him for as long as I can. You just have to promise not to say anything." Lin Moyi frowned as he floated off the massive wall of formation lines and landed on the ground. Zhen Chen followed closely. "You don't have to worry; I won't say a thing. But the resources used to activate and maintain this Grand Sky Locking Formation have bored a hole in my pockets. If the clan found out I used this, my son would be frustrated to no end," Zhen Chen smiled awkwardly.

"I'll repay this favor, no need to worry." Lin Moyi started to walk over to Jiang Feng. "Then it's settled," replied Zhen Chen, following him.

Boom.

Just as they got close, a low explosion echoed inside Jiang Feng's body. All the spiritual energy converged in a stream, forming a massive lake within him. The lake was crystal clear and measured three thousand meters in diameter. One had to know that when one broke through to the Essence Condensation Stage, their Essence Lake would only be around one thousand meters long. Those with strong resources and great talent could expand it to at most fifteen hundred.

It was unheard of for a first-stage practitioner to expand their Essence Lake to three thousand meters. The Essence Condensation Stage had nine levels, and the Essence Lake would expand one thousand meters with each breakthrough, for a grand total of nine thousand meters. How strong would Jiang Feng be when he reached the ninth stage?

Not only that, but a human could only possess nine opened meridians, no more. This was because the body couldn't handle the burden of another, nor would the universe allow more than that to form. Thus, having twelve was beyond shocking.